Posts By: MICHAEL C CRAVEN

Collaborative Divorce: What is it and is it right for me?

  The prospect of going through a divorce can be daunting. Aside from the major emotional challenges that accompany any major life change, many people may be uncomfortable participating in a typical adversarial – and potentially combative – divorce proceeding. Collaborative divorce provides an option for those parties to avoid a lengthy, potentially ugly proceeding and still achieve their goals.   What is a Collaborative Divorce? Collaborative divorce is a relatively recent...   Read more ...  

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Senate Bill 57: Changes to Illinois Family Law

  On July 21, 2015, Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner signed Senate Bill 57 into law. The new legislation, which goes into effect on January 1, 2016, amends a great deal of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, which governs family law issues including marriage, separation, divorce, and custody. The Illinois Bar Journal highlighted the significance of changes to the grounds for divorce, property division, child custody and parental relocation.   Grounds for Divorce Senate...   Read more ...  

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US Divorce Stats and Facts

  Around 50% of marriages in the U.S. end in divorce. 41% of first marriages end in divorce. 60% of second marriages end in divorce. 73% of third marriages end in divorce. In America, there is one divorce approximately every 36 seconds. The average length of a marriage that ends in divorce is 8 years. ‘3 years’ is the average times for people, before they decide to remarry after they are divorced. ’30 years old’ is the average age when people get their first div...   Read more ...  

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Illinois Orders of Protection: Domestic Violence and Eligibility

  While domestic violence has gotten increased attention in mainstream media, many victims continue to suffer in silence and isolation. While there is no one-size-fits all solution, one option that enables many victims to escape violent and abusive relationships and to stay safe is to file for an order of protection.   What is an Order of Protection? An order of protection is a court order that prohibits an abuser from engaging in certain behavior. In addition to requiring that abusers...   Read more ...  

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How Does Divorce Impact Debt?

Understanding how divorce impacts your life can, in general, be difficult and complex. Many people worry about how divorce will impact their assets. Specifically, parties often wonder what will happen to their bank accounts, pensions, and stocks, or they wonder who will get to keep the car or the house. However, depending on the parties’ finances and spending behavior, a bigger question is often: what happens to the debt? Marital Property and Debt Illinois law requires that property in a divor...   Read more ...  

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How Does Joint Custody work?

  When parents divorce, one question often rises above the rest: who will get the kids?  The answer to that question is not a simple one, particularly with the increase in attention on joint custody determinations. When considering child custody arrangements, if joint custody is on the table, the question then becomes: what does that look like?   Sole Custody vs. Joint Custody   According to Illinois Law, custody decisions are made based on the best interest of the child. Determi...   Read more ...  

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